observations...

Would you like some cheese with that?

Yeah, yeah, it took all of 15 minutes into the new season for tempers to fly and the whining to start.  Melinda Lira, following her less than compassionate dismissal from the semi-finals, when asked, idiotically, what went wrong, began to lament being dissed by the producers during the audition and Hollywood episodes, putting her at an immediate disadvantage with the fans.  It's why she lost so soon.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

Melinda obviously watched the episodes, just like the rest of us, so she was not unaware of the challenge ahead of her.  And yes, we were able to build somewhat of a relationship with many of the final 24.  And no, we had never seen nor heard of her until the 24 show.  But we had also heard little if anything of Joseph Murena, Aloha Mischeaux or Celena Rae, and yes, all of them have a steeper hill to climb than, say, Mario Vazquez or Mikalah Gordon.

But this is nothing unusual.  Hello?  Is she new here?

It's the name of the game.  Some are annointed early on, and, fairly or not, pimped from the start.  So that's when the less-annointed need to pump up the volume and blow the stage apart. 

Remember Latoya?  She built a vocal and steadfast fan group with a 90 second appearance.  It was the first time we had seen her face, and she seized her moment and belted out a memorable performance.  She didn't simply stand there and give us yet another Celine Dion attempt.  (Or Whitney.  Or Mariah.  Or the usual suspects or the overused songs.)  She made a statement.  She challenged us not to vote for her.

Melinda didn't do that.  Melinda didn't even try.

Melinda didn't get tossed because she was unfairly treated.  Melinda got punted because, of the less-annointed ones, she was the worst.  And most boring.  And most forgettable.

Let this be a lesson to Celena.  And to Joseph.  If you don't prove to us that you deserve our phone call, you have no one to blame.

Except yourself.